Garbage problem in Delhi: 100 trucks pressed into service to clear waste

New Delhi: More than 100 trucks have been pressed into service to remove the garbage that had piled up in several parts of East Delhi during the strike by sanitation workers for being removed on an emergency basis.

According to a senior official from East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), already around 14,000 tonnes of garbage has been lifted by the sanitation workers who resumed work on Friday.

Around 15,000 sanitation workers had on Friday called off their 12-day-long strike after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung announced to release Rs. 493 crore for their payment of pending
salaries.

“Already around 14,000 tonnes of garbage have been lifted by the sanitation workers who resumed work on Friday. The work is on, senior officials of EDMC are constantly monitoring the situation on the field.

“More than 100 trucks have been pressed into service to remove the garbage. We are hopeful of clearing it up by Tuesday,” the official said.

Heaps of garbage had been rotting on roads and bylanes, particularly in east Delhi raising stink and health concerns as frustrated citizens voiced their anger against the authorities with an average 2,000 to 2,200 metric tonnes of garbage being generated daily.

Meanwhile, yesterday BJP and AAP leaders took to the streets wielding brooms and carried out a cleanliness drive, a day after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi reached out to the agitating sanitation workers.